Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you among the 10% who finish what they start?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/the-daily-grind-are-you-among-the-10-who-finish-what-they-star/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/the-daily-grind-are-you-among-the-10-who-finish-what-they-star/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/the-daily-grind-are-you-among-the-10-who-finish-what-they-star/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Guild Wars Pre-Searing screenshot
Last week, CNN published an article declaring that video game attrition is significantly higher than we might have suspected. According to the post, 90% of gamers don't finish the video games they start. CNN lists several possible reasons for this phenomenon: the rising age of the average gamer (37), shortening attention spans, different life focuses, gaming platforms, game lengths, and a roster of new games -- particularly the more profitable and time-consuming multiplayer games -- that's becoming increasingly bloated.

Setting aside the question of whether MMOs even have endings at all, we have to wonder whether MMO gamers suffer this same inability to see a game through to the finish line. Whatever you consider the "end" of your MMOs, do you ever get there? Are you among the 10% of gamers who finish what they start?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Are you among the 10% who finish what they start? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbrianna-royce-tdgcnnendendingendingsfinish-linefinishedgaming-industryguild-warsgwncsoftopiniontdgthe-daily-grindSat, 20 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: The absurdity of the endgame]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/the-soapbox-the-absurdity-of-the-endgame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/the-soapbox-the-absurdity-of-the-endgame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/the-soapbox-the-absurdity-of-the-endgame/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

Like most of you, I play a lot of MMORPGs. Too many, in fact, and the deluge of new and interesting games in the offing is only going to further erode what remains of my free time. I've managed to see the mythical "endgame" in a fair few titles over the years, so when I say that I play a lot, I don't mean that I boot up a trial and hit level 10 before hopping to the next bright shiny.

Off the top of my head, I've dinged max level in Age of Conan (three times), Aion, Star Wars Galaxies (six times), Anarchy Online, Lord of the Rings Online, Global Agenda (twice), Vanguard, and The Matrix Online, to name a few.

While many of these games subsequently raised the level cap, I've nonetheless raided, PvP'd, and chased enough gear carrots to have an opinion about the proverbial MMORPG "endgame." And I'm here to tell you that most of what passes for said endgame is repetitive schlock.

Continue reading The Soapbox: The absurdity of the endgame

MassivelyThe Soapbox: The absurdity of the endgame originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>community-generated-contentcontentendendgamefeaturedmmo-industrymmo-skinner-boxopinionplayer-generated-contentsandboxsandparkskinner-boxsoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardthe-endthe-soapboxthemeparkTue, 07 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: It only ends once]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/24/the-daily-grind-it-only-ends-once/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/24/the-daily-grind-it-only-ends-once/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/24/the-daily-grind-it-only-ends-once/#commentsFiled under: ,

"It only ends once. Anything that happens before that is just progress."

After six long years, it's finally over. You've reached the end of it all. Most of the characters are dead, you're sick to death of the setting, and the lore retcons make you weep. But you don't even care anymore. You're tired of the whole ordeal. You don't want to think or talk about it. You don't want closure -- you just want an ending, any ending. You just "need it to be over."

Am I talking about LOST or an MMO? Yes. TV shows -- even more than movies -- have a lot more in common with MMOs than you might think. A lot of them get canceled before they even start. Plenty of terrible ones last far longer than they deserve. And the ones that do make it to an "endgame" without being abruptly and unceremoniously canceled are nearly always a disappointment, somehow, even if you loved them along the way. No matter how amazing and revolutionary they are, there's always something you wish they'd done differently to make that experience perfect. And sometimes, you're just happy they're over -- so you can go on to the next big thing and feel that excitement and wonder all over again.

So, as we say aloha to the LOST phenomenon, let's consider how it relates to MMO endings. What do you think were the best and worst MMO endings, inside the game and out? Did you quit the game, or did the game quit you? Did it end in triumph, tragedy, or blessed relief?

[Note: Spoilers are possible in this comment thread.]

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: It only ends once originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 May 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgendendgameLostopiniontdgthe-daily-grindMon, 24 May 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tabula Rasa to shut down in February 2009]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/21/tabula-rasa-to-shut-down-in-february-2009/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/21/tabula-rasa-to-shut-down-in-february-2009/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/21/tabula-rasa-to-shut-down-in-february-2009/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


It's been a fairly good run for Tabula Rasa, but the inevitable has now been announced. As of February 28, 2009, Tabula Rasa will be shutting down its servers for good. We've feared an Auto-Assault-like fate for the game for a while now, but confirmation of this event truly saddens everyone in the MMO community.

According to the announcement, the folks at TR plan on going out in style, though. Not only will they continue to pump out some new, quality content in the remaining months, but the game will actually go free-to-play for its final month and a half. You can check out more of their upcoming final plans with the game, as well as the official announcement at their website.

MassivelyTabula Rasa to shut down in February 2009 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingbreaking newsbreakingnewsdestination-gamesendncsoftrichard-garriottshutting-downtabula-rasatrFri, 21 Nov 2008 13:45:00 EST